The Materials Engineering Department, in partnership with UBC Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of Science, and several engineering and science departments, successfully kickstarted the 2024-25 academic year with the “Early Career Researchers Symposium on Sustainable Materials and Chemistry.” Held at the Nest, this half-day event highlighted innovative research in sustainable materials and chemistry.
The event opened with a keynote address from Dr. James Olson, Dean of UBC Applied Science, setting the stage for an engaging day of knowledge sharing. This was followed by presentations from six early-career UBC professors and two external speakers from the University of Washington and Simon Fraser University, each delivering a 20-minute talk and offering insights into their impactful research and ongoing projects in the field of sustainable materials and chemistry.
Our latest faculty addition – Dr. Kiana Amini focused on her electrochemistry research, spotlighting three key technologies – redox flow batteries, electrochemical CO2 capture systems, and electrochemical extraction of lithium from brine.
Special thanks to Dr. Alex Tavasoli, Dr. Eva Nichols, and Dr. Kiana Amini for their effort in organizing this event, and to all the speakers for their time and dedication in sharing their work with the UBC community and beyond.
Congratulations to our PhD student – Kuthan Celebi, who was recently honored with the 2024 Dean’s Award for Leadership from the Faculty of Applied Science, and the 2024 Automotive Composites Conference and Expo (ACCE) scholarship by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)!
The Dean’s Award for Leadership from the Faculty of Applied Science is an annual award (up to $1,000) given to the top graduate students in the Faculty of Applied Science to recognize an outstanding student who takes an active role in institutional governance, service delivery, and community service work in one or more areas with the primary aim of making significant contributions to the graduate student culture and environment. Read more about Graduate Student Awards at UBC APSC here: Awards for Students in Applied Science.
Kuthan has played a key role in revitalizing the MTRL Graduate Students Association (GSA) after the pandemic. Since 2023, GSA has organized multiple social activities to bring together the graduate student community as well as the faculty and staff members. One of his team’s initiatives include partnering with the Undergraduate Student Association to host lab tours that enrich the educational experience of undergraduate students. He is committed to ensuring the continuity of GSA through getting GSA recognized by the Graduate Students Society and the Alma Mater Society as an affiliate organization. To stay updated on the MTRL Graduate Students Association and their activities, follow the GSA on Instagram @mtrlgsa or reach out via email.
In addition to the Dean’s Award, Kuthan has also been named a recipient of the 2024 ACCE scholarship, in the amount of $2,000 by SPE. SPE ACCE Scholarships are awarded to students pursuing advanced studies in a composites-related field, whose work holds the potential to make a significant impact on the automotive composites industry. Read more about the ACCE scholarship here: SPE ACCE Scholarship Winners.
We congratulate Kuthan on these well-deserved recognitions and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
Last month, the department hosted the University of Queensland Metallurgy group as part of their study tour visit to UBC. The tour included an exploration of our hydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, and mineral processing laboratories, and featured engaging discussions on graduate pathways and postgraduate studies.
Student Reflections
Aiden Fraser, Penultimate student at the University of Queensland
The tour covered a range of educational and industrial services, including research, lab-scale benchmark testing, and postgraduate qualifications. It clarified potential career pathways and the “back-end” of sample analysis. Initially, we were shown the Hydrometallurgy laboratories by Kashif M. Deen, Ph.D., which featured industry-driven projects. My favorite was the alloy analysis determining mechanisms for selective leaching to assist with nuclear energy. Next, Dr. Libin Tong, guided us around the mineral processing laboratory. His advanced understanding of comminution was invaluable, allowing us to ask questions about benchmark testing and its industry applications, as well as risk analysis for safety during dangerous tests. Lastly, a Q&A session with Associate Prof. Ben Britton focused on postgraduate certification through master’s and Ph.D. programs. He explained the differences between co-op and thesis-based qualifications and offered advice on navigating the North American educational system to enter desired programs. Of all the experiences, the Q&A session on postgraduate qualifications was my favorite, as these processes are often opaque and frustrating for the layman.
Lara Way, Masters student at the University of Queensland
As Aiden mentioned, this tour had several highlights. I particularly enjoyed the tour of Dr. Edouard Asselin’s laboratory, where we learnt about bioleaching research on arsenic for gold extraction from arsenopyrite. We also delved into corrosion issues in nuclear reactors, a crucial topic as nuclear energy contributes about 15% of Canada’s power. The discussion focused on how nickel dissolution in alloys causes corrosion and explored optimal coatings and new alloy compositions. Learning about alloy polarisation during synthesis in the corrosion laboratories was also a highlight of this tour. We toured UBC’s mineral processing facilities, where it was great to see familiar technologies like the HPGR, JK Drop Weight Test, Knelson concentrator, and high tension roll separator. Hearing from technicians about machine maintenance and the overall process to complete test work was something I came to appreciate during the tour and will remember for my future industry career. Finally, the graduate Q&A session with Associate Professor Ben Britton was particularly informative as I have commenced my Master’s degree. Ben shared common mistakes students make in postgraduate studies and offered advice on maximising the experience, which I greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to our faculty members who have recently received Discovery Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Pushing Performance Limits of Redox Flow Batteries for Clean Energy Storage and Conversion
Currently an MASc student working in the field of carbon fiber reinforced composites, Maggie Chong completed her BASc in Materials Engineering in 2023. She is the recipient of 2024 Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Program Award. During her undergraduate degree, she has also received the following awards: NSERC USRA, Frank Forward Memorial Award, and Christina Lim Huckvale Memorial Award.
1. What does your current research focus on?
My research focuses on carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, widely used in aerospace and automotive sectors for their weight-saving benefits and improved fuel economy. One critical and high-performance component in these composites is called the prepreg tape. During the manufacturing process of these composites, it is common to have the tapes trimmed due to microstructural variations. Traditionally, the trimmed material, called the trim edge tape (TET) has been disposed of or incinerated, causing environmental hazards and concerns.
One solution is to valorize and upcycle these by-products from the manufacturing process. In collaboration with our industrial partner, Teijin Limited, my goal is to develop a comprehensive approach that enables the prediction of materials properties for these upcycled tapes.
2. What impact do you aim to make through your current work?
The morphology of the tapes can be variable and complex, translating into large uncertainties within the mechanical response, and this phenomenon is poorly understood.
Understanding the relationship between the physical structure and material properties of compression-moulded TET composites is essential to ensure consistent production quality and is a fundamental requirement for widespread industrial adoption. The proposed work could make a positive impact on the composites manufacturing industry by addressing the environmental and economic challenges posed by the disposal of prepreg waste material.
Maggie working in the laboratory and examining TET composite samples
3. What inspired you to choose Materials Engineering?
I chose materials engineering because of my experience in high school when I had the opportunity to fly gliders, which are engineless aircraft. In my case, they had canvas-covered fuselages. On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I wondered why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there. I attended several Girls in Engineering workshops at UBC from grades 10 to 12. Learning about the many research and hands-on opportunities for undergrads further led me toward materials engineering.
“On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I started to wonder why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there.”
4. What skills from your undergraduate studies have been most valuable in your current work?
I think the most important skill I obtained from my undergraduate studies is learning how to tackle new scientific projects by asking the right questions. Several courses in the materials engineering program, such as MTRL 280 (Materials in Design) and MTRL 361 (Modelling of Materials Processes), feature interactive projects that help students develop the ability to deconstruct and analyse technical challenges.
5. How did you navigate the transition from undergraduate to graduate study?
The transition from undergraduate to graduate studies can be steep. I found the sudden intellectual freedom to explore large engineering questions on my own a bit daunting. However, my research group has a strong collaborative and can-do spirit. We exchange ideas and solutions daily, creating a great culture for conducting research.
“It is important to be disciplined and critical of your work, but having a laugh and some fun along the way is equally important.”
6. As a recent alumn of the MTRL Undergraduate Program at UBC, what advice would you offer current students?
“The advice I would offer is to find your niche within the vast realm of materials engineering”
I have always been interested in archaeology and picked up fencing as a sport. One of my professors mentioned they saw booths at the TMS Bladesmithing Competition at a conference they had attended, which seemed like the perfect intersection of my professional and personal interests. Along with several students, I helped to create UBC Volcan in 2020 with support from the Materials Engineering Department. This team allowed students to hand-forge artisanal blades while developing employable skills in metallurgical characterization, mechanical testing, and technical writing. Taking on student leadership positions within a design team allowed me to find a strong community of undergraduate students passionate about materials engineering. I would advise students to participate in as many activities as you can within the department while prioritizing studies. There are many options including student council, design teams, and undergraduate research!
Congratulations Meet Upadhyay for winning the 2023/24 Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award!
We are proud to share that Meet, a Graduate Teaching Assistant in our Department of Materials Engineering, has been honored with this Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. Thank you Meet for your dedication and contribution in teaching!
UBC Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards annually recognizes nineteen exceptional Graduate Teaching Assistants for their teaching excellence within the institution.
Last week, we celebrated the Class of 2024 outstanding achievements, hard work, commitment, and passion. We look forward to seeing all that they will do in the future as they become the future leaders in the world.
Congratulations again to the UBC Materials Engineering Class of 2024! We are incredibly proud of our newest alumni and cannot wait for their valuable contributions to the field of materials engineering and beyond.
Congratulations to our faculty member – Prof. Edouard Asselin for receiving the 2024 Metal Chemistry Award at the recent Canadian Materials Science Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. Dr. Asselin’s research group focuses on aqueous metal extraction and electrometallurgy, addressing longstanding challenges in corrosion and extractive metallurgy.
The Metal Chemistry Award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of metallurgical chemistry, including hydrometallurgy and corrosion.
From left to right: Alan Chow, Jason Sugiharto, Geoffrey Lam, Jenny Chen, Susan Xu, Eleanor Walton-Knight
Materials Engineering Students Team presenting their project during Design and Innovation Day 2024
Design and Innovation Day 2024
Materials Engineering Section during Design and Innovation Day 2024
Design and Innovation Day is an annual event showcasing the results of engineering students as a result of a year-long dedication and commitment to their undergraduate engineering capstone projects. One of the Materials Engineering students team unveiled a solution for battery recycling in their project entitled “Recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBS)”.
In partnership with Hatch, the team developed a hydrometallurgical process to recover essential metals like nickel, lithium, manganese, and cobalt from used batteries. Their innovative approach not only allows economic viability but also carries the potential for significant environmental benefits. This project marks a significant step towards a cleaner, greener future in energy production.
Congratulations to the students on their achievement! Read the full article on the UBC Engineering Website
Congratulations to two of our faculty members for receiving the 2024/25 Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF)! The TLEF supports UBC’s strategic plan by advancing transformative learning at the university. This year, $2.2 million of TLEF will be supporting 62 new and returning TLEF projects across campus.
Integration of Simulation Software Teaching Modules into Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Curricula to Enhance Practical Learning Dr. Sergey Kravchenko
Development of a New Case Study Incorporating Themes of Indigenous Engagement and Consultation in a Core First Year Engineering Course Dr. Jon Nakane
